The conclave to elect the next pope will start on May 7, the Vatican said on Monday, setting up a vote that will decide the future of the Roman Catholic Church after the death of Pope Francis last week at the age of 88.
Now cardinals have little over a week to discuss, campaign, and get to know all the potential contenders — some of whom will likely seek to build on Francis’ emphasis on a pastoral approach, while others would represent a return to a more traditional style.
Scores of cardinals have been gathering since the pope’s death to decide on logistical details about the pope’s mourning, but also to discuss major issues facing the church and to pick a date when cardinal-electors will meet in the Sistine Chapel to vote for Francis’ successor.
The cardinals will next meet on Tuesday morning, and the politicking is only set to intensify now that a date has been chosen to elect the next pontiff.
That was apparent on Monday, when the cardinals discussed the church’s relationship with the rest of the world and other religions, evangelization, sexual abuse in the church, and other challenges, as well as the date for the conclave. The meeting, a spokesman for Vatican added, tackled the qualities the new pope must respond to these issues. Aside from the candidates’ positions, their age and country of origin will also factor in the deliberations, Vatican experts said.
Only about 100 of the 130 or so cardinals — those under the age of 80 — and who can vote in the secret ballot participated in the meetings, the Vatican said. Others are set to arrive in Rome in the coming days.